INDEPENDENCE could spell the end for Scotland’s shipbuilding industry, a group of influential Westminster politicians have warned.

Members of the Scottish Affairs Committee have concluded that yards would suffer a sharp decline in contracts if First Minister Alex Salmond’s plans to split the UK are successful.

The findings, published yesterday, claim that an independent Scotland would miss out on vital Ministry of Defence work and three sites, Rosyth, Govan and Scotstoun, could be in jeopardy.

In contrast, the report suggests that if Scots were to vote “no” at the 2014 referendum, then shipyards north of the Border could be guaranteed business for the next half century.

It says Rosyth would be awarded aircraft carrier refit work for the next 50 years, and Clyde shipyards Govan and Scotstoun would become the main UK centres of excellence for naval vessels.

They would produce the order for the complete run of Type-26 vessels, plus export work, securing their future well into the next decade.

Labour’s Ian Davidson, chairman of the committee, said: “The choice faced by the shipyards and shipbuilders in Scotland is stark and clear: stay in the UK and shipyards have a secure source of work for decades; leave and the Clyde will not be eligible for UK-restricted orders and will have little prospect of winning export work.

“The needs of a Scottish navy will be insufficient to maintain capacity and any attempts to switch into a short run of submarine building will be horrendously expensive.

“There will be no UK naval work and work for any new separate Scottish navy, whatever that might consist of, has been promised to Faslane.

In short: leave the UK and Scottish shipyards are doomed

Labour’s Ian Davidson

“In short: leave the UK and Scottish shipyards are doomed.”

The report calls on the Scottish Government to clarify its plans to safeguard the 4,000 employed in shipbuilding if Scotland votes to go it alone.